Mon Aug 18 07:50:00 UTC 2025: **Summary:**
Whisper Owen, 36, and her 8-month-old daughter, Sandra McCarty, who went missing on July 15th after visiting family in Fresno, have been found dead inside their submerged vehicle. The vehicle, a silver 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer, was discovered in a central California canal near Oakdale. A non-profit dive team located the vehicle, and the bodies of an adult and infant were recovered. Family members have identified the vehicle as belonging to Whisper Owen. The Fresno Police Department is leading the investigation, with the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office and California Highway Patrol investigating how the vehicle ended up in the water. Family members have expressed frustration with the authorities’ handling of the case.
**News Article:**
**Missing Sacramento Mother and Baby Found Dead in Submerged Vehicle**
**Oakdale, CA -** The search for Whisper Owen, 36, and her 8-month-old daughter, Sandra McCarty, has ended in tragedy. Authorities have confirmed that their vehicle was found submerged in a canal near Highway 120 and Victory Road in San Joaquin County, and the bodies of an adult and infant were discovered inside.
Owen and McCarty were last seen on July 15th after visiting family in Fresno. They were traveling home to Elk Grove in a silver 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer and were last seen on traffic camera in Atwater. Family members reported them missing three days later after a miscommunication led to the delay.
A non-profit dive team located a vehicle matching the description of Owen’s on Sunday in Oakdale, approximately 45 minutes north of Atwater. The San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office and the dive team subsequently recovered the vehicle and the bodies.
While formal identification is pending by the Medical Examiner’s Office, family members at the scene have identified the vehicle as belonging to Whisper Owen.
The Fresno Police Department is leading the investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident, with the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office and California Highway Patrol assisting in determining how the vehicle ended up in the water.
“We have sent two Fresno PD – Detectives to the scene at Highway 120 and Victory Road to continue our investigation and work with the sheriff’s department regarding details of the recovery,” the statement said. “We continue to provide support to Whisper and Sandra’s family through our detectives and will also provide additional support to the family through our Fresno Police and Fire Chaplaincy.”
CNN’s Julia Vargas Jones is following the story. Some family members have voiced concerns, stating that they feel the authorities are not taking the matter seriously. The investigation is ongoing.
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